Method of transporting salt.



J. STAUFPER.

METHOD OF TBANSPORTING SALT. APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, 1911.

- Patented Mar. 24, I914,

@iiiii I5 deposit.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN STAUFLFER, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR To SAN rnAnorsco SALTREFINERY, or SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION or c LIEoENIA.

METHOD OF TRANSPORTING SALT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 21, 1911.

' Patented Mar. 24,1914. Serial No. 645,079.

5 fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methodsof Transporting Salt, of which the following is a specification.

The hereinafter described invention relates to an improved method oftransporting or conveying salt from a distant point to a suitable placeof de osit, .the 0b]eCt being to facilitate the ban ling of the salt andat the same time to provide against the material being exposed duringtransportation to dirt, dust, and other forcignsubstances depositedtherein under the present manner of handling the same, and by so doingmaintaining the salt in a clean condition.

The improved method of transportation consists in forming a brinesolution thoroughly impregnated or charged with salt to such a point ofsaturation as to repel further absorption of sodium chlorid crystals,"which solution so formed is employed or utilized as the propellingmedium for the salt to be conveyed or transported.

This solution is forced through a suitable return pipe line connectionby means of a force pump, and as the solution is pumped from the feedstation to the place of deposit, the salt to be transported is fed intothe flowing body of the brine solution, and carried by such solution tothe desired place of Inasmuch as the propelling solution is impregnatedto its full point of saturation, the salt crystals delivered thereinremain in suspension, so that the solution is discharged at the end ofthe pipe line 0 for the return to the feed or pump station.

At the discharge point for the charged solution, the salt crystals areseparated from the propelling medium in any suitable manner, while thePreferably, at the discharge end ofthe pump line, the conveylng solutionpasses into a sump through a reticulated covering, the mesh of which isof such fineness as to retain or hold on the surface thereof the saltcrystals held in suspension within the propelling or conveying solution,thus separating the salt crystals from the impregnated solution.

A simple and effective apparatus for suc- L cessfully carrying out the.described method saturated solution or brine is' 5 returned to the pumpstation.

is disclosed in the accompanying sheet of draw ngs, wherein isillustrated a broken vlew in side relation of the return pipe line, acentrifugal pump at the feed end thereof for forcing the conveyingsolution therethrough to the discharge end thereof, and

the receiving surface for separating the salt crystals from the solutionpassing therethrough. A

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a sump located at the feed orpumping stationfor the conveying of the solution; 2 a centrlfugal pumpextended therein; 3 the upper run of the pipe line extended to thedistant discharge station 4 where the salt 1s to be deposited; 5 thecollecting or sepa-' rating surface formed of-meshed material onto whichthe propelling solution for the salt crystals run of the pipe line forreturning the discharged solution vfrom the well 7 to the sump 1.

-The saturated solution contained within the sump 1 is raised therefromby the pump 2 and forced through the pipe line section 3 onto the meshcovering or separator 5 located at the discharge station 4:. As thesolution runs through the covering or collecting surface .5 into thewell 7, the salt crystals carried thereby in suspension are held back bythe covering or collecting surface 5 and so separated from the conveyingvehicle. From is discharged, and 6 the'under' the well 7, the solutionis returned to the sump 1 by the return section 6 of the pipe line. Asthe solution, is forced into the pipe line section 3 at the feedstation, the salt or salt crystals to be conveyed to the dischargestation 4 is fed into the flowing solution through a feed hopper 8, andconveyed thereby toward the discharge station, being preferablydelivered onto a collecting or separating surface 5, the solutionpassing therethrough into the well 7 flowing back into the sump 1through the return section 6 of the pipe line. A continuous circulationof the propelling solution is thus maintained between the receivingstation and the dis charge station or place of deposit for thetransported salt.

While the described apparatus is a con venient arrangement of workingparts for successfully carryin out the invention, still, any othersuitable orm of mechanism may be utilized for maintaining in action thepropelling solution for the salt or salt crystals.

By'the described method of transporting a body of salt to a suitableplace of deposit through the medium of an impregnated solution,saturated to its full capacity of absorption, the salt is maintained ina clean condition, free of foreign deposits, and transferred withgreater rapidity, at a minimum expense, and with less handling thanwhere conveyed in sacks or vehicles to the refining station or place ofdeposit.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto'be protected by Letters Patent is I 1. The method of transportingsalt to-a' place of deposit which consists in forming a brine solutionimpregnated with salt to its full capacity, forcing the same toward theplace of deposit, and feeding into the solution the salt to betransported.

V 2. The method of transporting salt to a place of deposit the step ofwhich consists in feeding intoa flowing solution of brine impregnatedwith salt to its full capacity of absorption, the salt to betransported.

3. The method of transporting salt to a place of deposit, which consistsin feeding into a continuous flowing brine solution impregnated withsalt to its full capacity of absorption the salt to be transferred, andseparating from the solution at the place of deposit the salt crystalscarried thereby in suspension.

4. The method of transporting salt from afeed station to a distantplace'of deposit, which consists in establishing between the feedstation and the place of deposit a flowing stream of brine solutionimpregnated with salt to its full capacity of absorption,

feeding into said stream the salt to be transported, separatingfromflowing stream ad: jacent its point of discharge the salt crystalsheld in suspension, and returning the brine solution with thesaltcrystals removed therefrom to the feed station.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN STAUFFER.

Witnesses:

N. A. ACKER, D. B. RICHARDS.

